Residents of Bengaluru apartment associations have urged the Karnataka Apartment (Ownership and Maintenance) Bill 2026 to include clear builder accountability, election timelines and parking regulations. Stakeholders also suggested new rules for common‑area handovers, internal renovations and dispute resolution.

Key Takeaways (मुख्य बिंदु)

  • Clear provisions for builder accountability
  • Defined timelines for association elections and office‑bearer tenures
  • New norms for common‑area management and parking

Apartment owners in Bengaluru have tabled a series of amendments to the draft Karnataka Apartment (Ownership and Maintenance) Bill 2026. The proposals focus on builder liability, governance of resident welfare associations (RWAs), parking management, dispute resolution, and internal flat renovations. The bill aims to provide a cohesive legal framework for the city’s rapidly expanding high‑rise residential complexes, safeguarding the rights of both owners and tenants.

Core Proposals and Why They Matter

Many developers register each tower of a multi‑tower project separately, creating fragmented management of shared spaces. Representative Arpita highlighted this chaos and urged that a single, unified association manage all towers of a project, preventing the proliferation of multiple RWAs. Similarly, Usha Sekhar noted that several owners refuse to sign Form B, later claiming the association is illegal because “not everyone has joined.” This loophole undermines collective decision‑making and hampers service delivery.

Election Timelines and Office‑Bearer Tenure

Stakeholder Vasudeva called for the bill to prescribe definitive timelines for conducting association elections and to clearly define the tenure of office‑bearers. He also advocated for automatic succession mechanisms when an office‑bearer resigns before completing the term, ensuring continuity and reducing governance vacuums.

Safety, Renovations and Parking Guidelines

North‑Bengaluru resident Vidya Gogai proposed clauses to regulate internal renovations, warning that unsupervised structural changes could compromise building safety. She also pressed for a dedicated parking policy, citing the surge in vehicle ownership that is turning open communal areas into ad‑hoc parking zones, thereby affecting both safety and aesthetics.

Broader Perspective and Government Response

Satish Mallya, president of the Bangalore Apartments’ Federation, emphasized, “Karnataka needs a comprehensive law that safeguards apartment owners’ rights, clearly defines builder responsibilities, strengthens association powers, and promotes transparent self‑governance.” He welcomed the Chief Minister’s promise to introduce the bill in the Legislative Assembly after incorporating public suggestions, describing it as a highly encouraging development.